Chapter 1: Resupply
Under the starry sky, my playful exchange with Sena was abruptly interrupted by an unrefined and unpredictable figure—of course, it was Sensei.
She observed the pleasant atmosphere between us and, like a mischievous cat, a spark of inspiration lit up her face. Then, without warning, she began to sniff the air, turning her back to us as she wandered around, following the scent. With her hand on her chin, she wore an expression reminiscent of a detective deep in thought. Suddenly, I imagined a line of light shooting out behind her.
Then, to my astonishment, she began to shake her body vigorously, exclaiming, “You ate meat, didn’t you? That’s unfair! I want some too! Me too!” She stomped her feet in frustration.
It seemed that meat was more important to her than playing tricks. However, we had just finished our meal, so I gently suggested, “Let’s do it again tomorrow,” but it was in vain.
“No way, no way!”
Sensei started throwing a tantrum.
“We just ate, so please, let’s wait until tomorrow.”
Even though I tried to reason with her, it was no use. Feeling sorry for her, I proposed again that we could do it tomorrow, even adding a plea.
Sensei shot me a glance and declared, “That’s unfair!”
Then she lay down on the ground, kicking her legs in a fit. Watching an adult throw such a childish tantrum was both amusing and somewhat uncomfortable, but if viewed as a negotiation tactic, it was undeniably a powerful card.
In my predicament, I turned to Sena for help. She nodded as if to say, “I understand.” Despite her usual demeanor, she gave me a perfectly executed thumbs-up. Oh, how reassuring!
“Ichi, I can still eat a lot more,” she said.
Ah, I see. It was a complete ambush.
With all this going on, we quickly prepared for another barbecue late into the night to satisfy their demands, and everything was resolved.
It was a chaotic time, but it was also a pleasant one. I cherished every moment spent with these two.
Since meeting them and spending time together, I had almost forgotten the sudden, suffocating pain that used to grip my heart—an anguish I could do nothing about.
The next day, after finishing lunch, Sensei and I were getting ready to descend the mountain once more. I noticed Sena diligently packing various mysterious items—like her usual medicine pouch, some kind of talismans, and decorative trinkets—into my Magic Bag.
“Don’t worry too much; I’ll be fine,” I said, but if I were in her position, I would definitely be worried. As expected, Sena was concerned about me, and I could feel it.
“More importantly, Son-in-law,” Sensei called out to me, seemingly unaware of my thoughts.
“You looked so unwell before coming here, but your color has returned.”
That was true. I had been lacking essential nutrients after spending a considerable time away from Sena in Hidden Mountain. When I conveyed this fact to them, Sensei looked up and asked, “What is it? Vitamin C? It’s not like you were on a voyage or anything.”
Seeing them made me worry. What I was saying was common knowledge, yet they seemed oblivious. It was quite troublesome.
“What do you mean? It’s obvious—”
Honestly, I was really worried about the two of them. They needed me around. Heh.
“It’s Senanium.”
Senanium is the ultimate nutrient that can be replenished by interacting with the beautiful, proud, yet kind-hearted girl named Sena, who stands before me. While it can be absorbed through conversation, close physical contact allows for a more efficient intake.
When deprived of Senanium, Ichiro Yamada’s unforgettable emotional scars would reopen, causing traumatic memories that once shattered his mind to resurface. Additionally, as a side effect of this deficiency, both mental and physical ailments would arise.
These symptoms could be alleviated and improved through the intake of Senanium, eventually leading to a complete recovery. Current research has revealed that consuming Senanium significantly enhances both mental and physical capabilities, and I intend to continue investigating its effects and increase the intake.
Regarding the usage and dosage of Senanium, it is recommended to consume it more frequently and in larger amounts, so it is best to take it in high purity and high frequency before any deficiency symptoms arise.
Good grief. I explained it all in detail. Sigh, am I really that meddlesome?
Yet, Sensei was gasping, “This is bad!” as she wiped sweat from her forehead.
What’s so bad about it? I was just answering her question.
“Huh? Did I do something again?”
“Hieee!?”
“Huh? Did I do something again?”
Sensei let out a small scream.
What’s wrong, Sensei? It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry about.
Yet, for some reason, Sensei looked at Sena as if seeking help. Sena hurried over to my side and said to Sensei, “That’s right. I need to replenish my Ichiro Essence too.”
A mysterious cry of “Hyaaa!” echoed throughout Hidden Mountain that day.
“I’m sorry. I really can’t go down right away.”
As I stepped out of the cabin with Sensei, Sena came outside to see us off and looked into my eyes as she spoke.
“But, Ichiro, when you find yourself in danger, I will risk everything to help you.”
The petite Sena wrapped her arms around mine. Her flowing kimono seemed to envelop me in response to her emotions.
There wasn’t much I could say to Sena.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. When we get back, let’s relax together, the three of us.”
I felt frustrated that I could only say such clichéd things. However, perhaps sensing my feelings, Sena released my arm and said, “Take care, Ichiro,” as she saw me off.
First, we descended to the town and met up with Thomas from the Old Capital (Bienetta) and Miro, the son of the rugged mercenary captain. We quickly mounted the Eagle Dragon and headed toward the mansion where Ashley and Anon were waiting.
Along the way, Miro seemed inexplicably frightened of Sensei, while Thomas looked at me with sparkling eyes. There was no shortage of events, but thankfully, we arrived at our destination without any major incidents.
As soon as we arrived at the mansion, the capable Anon had already organized many arrangements.
Among them were tasks that could only be accomplished with me and Sensei present. The most urgent matter was a communication request from Kuroa, the vice-master of the Old Capital (Bienetta), who had just awakened that morning.
Not wanting to keep a recovering child waiting, I headed to the room within the mansion that housed the Communication Orb.